History

About Us

The Wheelchair Hockey League (WCHL) is Michigan's only adaptive wheelchair floor hockey league. The purpose of this league is to provide an appropriate means for persons in wheelchairs to have the opportunity to play in a competitive hockey league and have the chance to engage in the camaraderie and excitement of the sport. Our league includes both males and females in electric and manual wheelchairs ranging in age from 10-65. The WCHL currently has 40 players, divided into four teams.

Players, both males & females range in age from 10 to 60+ and have a variety of disabilities that include Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Arthrogryposis & Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones).

Our games are played 4 on 4 with goalies. Our season is 12 weeks in length, culminating with two playoff rounds of "best of three games" to decide our Wheelers Cup Champions! Our seasons are played over the course of nine months (October through June).

Players use a variety of sticks to play, depending on their upper body strength and ability to grip the stick. Some players add a dowel though the blade of their stick to help with ball control and other players use "V" Stick. "V" Sticks are two sticks fastened together, with the blades forming a V, and strapped to the player's chair frame.

The league was developed and is operated by the players with the assistance of parents and volunteers. The WCHL holds many annual events throughout the year, including an All-Star Game, Awards Banquet, Season, Playoffs and Game On Ice.

News

Michigan Hosts 2018 Powerhockey Cup

Jason Drapinski

The Michigan Mustangs along with the Wheelchair Hockey League brought the 2018 Powerhockey Cup tournament to Michigan for the first time. The event was held July 10-13th at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, MI. The tournament featured five teams that included: Minnesota Saints, Ottawa Capitals, Toronto Rock, Philadelphia Flyers PowerPlay and Michigan Mustangs.

Media

Frequently Asked Questions

Question

Answer

How is wheelchair hockey different from conventional hockey?

While wheelchair hockey is very similar in rules and form when compared to conventional hockey there are some differences. For instance, a hollow plastic whiffle ball is used instead of a puck and plastic or composite hockey sticks are used instead of wooden sticks. There are reason for these changes is that a great deal of electric wheelchair users have reduced upper body strength and would not be able to move their equipment and the ball without immense difficulty.

If a player is unable to hold their stick they may attach it to their wheelchair with some adaptations so that they may be able to participate in the game. Specialized brackets for stick positioning attached to a power wheelchair coupled with adaptations to the blade of the stick (i.e. V-sticks, plastic dowel through conventional blade, etc.) can make it possible for a player who is unable to hold a hockey stick to participate effectively in the game of PowerHockey. In addition to these changes there are different penalties based around driving an electric wheelchair and other unique safety issues. For the full rules used by the WCHL, check out our rules section.

Who plays wheelchair hockey?

Also referred to as PowerHockey, the majority of players in the sport are people who use electric wheelchairs as their primary means of mobility. However, there are some players who may use a manual wheelchair regularly or have some significant reliance on adaptive equipment for their daily mobility.

The guidelines surrounding player eligibility vary greatly from league to league. Since PowerHockey is currently being played in one form or another in seventeen (17) countries around the world in Australasia, Europe and North America the differences in the game can range from subtle to extreme due to the fact that the sport has been developed, for the most part, independently from other groups.

Can I play PowerHockey?

The best way to find out is to contact us for more information. Players must be at least 10 years old. We have no age limit. Wheelchair hockey is a game that even those with "profound" physical disabilities have been able to play and even excel at. It is not uncommon for players who attach their sticks to their wheelchairs to become very high calibre players even by international standards.

Our season registration takes place in September and player dues are $150 per season.

Is wheelchair hockey a serious game?

The game of wheelchair hockey can be quite serious and it can be as intense as any other hockey game you can see. The game can vary in intensity from a friendly pickup game all the way to the intensity of international competition. It all depends on the circumstances and the players involved.

There is already sled hockey in the Paralympic Games. Is Wheelchair Hockey really necessary?

The sport of sled hockey requires average to above average upper body strength and coordination to play. However, the great majority of our players do not possess either the strength or the coordination necessary to take part in it due to their disabilities. There are currently no team sports offered by the Paralympic Committee specifically for power wheelchair users. Wheelchair hockey allows people who would otherwise not be able to take part in other sports the opportunity to compete and be part of a team.

Donation Opportunities

The WCHL relies on sponsors and donations in order to operate.

The WCHL is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization.

If you would like to help support the WCHL or the Michigan Mustangs there are two options available, online and mail-in. When donating, please specify where you would like your donation to go (WCHL or Mustangs).

Without donations and support from you, the fans, this league would not exist.

Online Donations

The WCHL is part of the Network for Good. Network for Good allows non-profit organizations to accept donations securely online with any major credit card.